Irreverent Golf Glossary – More Course Parts

Welcome back to the Irreverent Golf Glossary. You have mastered the art of driving the golf cart and have made it to the tee box. Now let the game begin!!

• Fairway – this is where your golf ball is supposed to land on your first shot (stroke) from the tee box unless you are on a Par 3 hole (more on that later).

In the Short Hairs!

The grass is well manicured here (i.e. the short hairs) and should make for an easier second shot. Of course, that is the theoretical approach to golf. The reality is that fairways never seem to be lined up properly from the tee box and are quite elusive even if you are accomplished enough to play professionally. My approach to this is that anyone could play well from the fairway. The real challenge is playing out of the rough, the trees, the bunkers…..oh, sorry! I am getting ahead of myself.

• First cut of rough – this is a teaser area. It’s not the fairway but lies adjacent to it and the grass isn’t as short as in the fairway. The bummer is that if you are playing a contest hole (eg. long drive shot) and your ball comes to rest in this area – only mere inches away from the fairway- it does not count. Ask me how I know this!!

• Rough – this is where the real fun begins! This area has longer grass than the previously mentioned areas. In some cases it is so long, your ball disappears from sight. If you are lucky enough to find it you may as well have a machete to hack your way out. The good news is that most courses keep the rough to a manageable length so that you can find your ball but getting it out may still require a magician. I guess this why you need to try to hit the fairway. Hmmm!

• Fairway bunker – a.k.a. Sand Trap – an area filled with sand usually placed right where your ball should land if it just misses the fairway.

Golf ball in the Beach!

Sometimes it is called the ‘Beach’. I personally love the beach so it seems my golf ball is attracted to this area. However, without the thong, suntan lotion and sounds of the waves crashing in it isn’t as pleasant a place to be.

• Forest - a.k.a. ‘in the trees’. Some courses have more trees than others and even though the experts say that trees are 90% air, it is amazing how your little tiny golf ball can find the 10% that is tree!! Trees are all over the place and if you play your shot correctly you can use the tree to deflect a wayward shot back into the Fairway…or not!!! Can anyone say ‘pinball’??

Well, there is much more to experience on our way to the end of this round of golf. Come back and explore the rest. If you have any experiences or nicknames for these terms, feel free to add your comments below.

As always, thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee Golf Blog at www.sherrytabb.com.

Tags: Bunker, Fairway, First Cut, golf, golf course, Rough, sand trap, tee box